Author Topic: House Shot Arsenal Question (Read 4959 times)

KDawg77 · « **on:** March 18, 2011, 05:37:08 AM »

Hi gang,

I'm considering adding a ball to my THS arsenal which is current a Blue Vibe (pin below ring for even midlane) and a Cherry Vibe (pin above ring and cg in palm for length and backend surface is OOB). I brought my Doom out and sanded it (500 then 1000 over it). It's pin up and flare reducing x-hole. My speed is fairly high at 18-19 off my hand and rev rate is 400+. I'm thinking pin up Midnight Vibe. Thoughts?

I really don't need anything stronger becaus I have low game use Black Widow that needs surface alterations. My arsenal is in my profile I think.

Ken

Edited by KDawg77 on 11/16/2011 at 2:20 PM

HammerTech · « **Reply #1 on:** March 18, 2011, 04:13:08 PM »

I think the Midnight would fit perfectly. It is going to be the weaker then both your Blue and Cherry Vibes (weaker meaning cleaner through the front part of the lane).

jodyk24 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 18, 2011, 06:44:25 PM »

The Midnight Vibe is a lot stronger than a lot of people realize. It is very clean thought heads and finishes strong. You have some good hammer equipment listed and some good drills on them. Before my Vibe arrived I went on the Hammer site and looked under The Equipment & Layout portion and then found the symmetric core drilling instructions. It goes into a bit more detail than the drilling sheet that comes with the ball. You know what you want the ball to do as far as reaction and what you are looking for with your higher ball speed on a house shot. At least it will give you better idea of what might work on the condition that you will be bowling on. Even if you are going to have a degree drilling on the layout. I think your idea with pin above fingers will work fine. You might think about a four or five inch pin above the fingers and to PAP. My hammer rep suggested this drill for my wife and she has slow ball speed but could work for you also. Her Midnight Vibe makes a nice continuous arc to the pins and still has hitting power. My Midnight is drilled pretty simple really, label leverage with cg on grip line kicked out with out a hole. Pin to the right of ring finger about 3 3/8 to the PAP. This is clean through the heads and has a powerful arc down lane. Still has box finish and I don't plan on changing it yet, it is still a new toy. I will tell you this much, this ball is a keeper.

jodyk24

KDawg77 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 19, 2011, 06:06:12 PM »

I saw the Midnight in action last Tuesday with a guy who has less speed and hand with a pin-palm drilling and the backend was crazy good. With the Blue and Cherry being more even overall, I think the more skid-snap look with the RG and Diff would work well for me and I was considering a pin over ring with CG offset and a xhole depnding on the layout. The real issue is something with a little more "giddy-up" at the breakpoint versus my Cherry. Thought again? Thanks!!!

Ken

KDawg77 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 21, 2011, 03:19:41 PM »

Thought I'd receive more inputs.

Ken

jodyk24 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 21, 2011, 05:06:42 PM »

I thought you would get a few more. I know you are trying to make the right decisions with the ball you pick and how to drill it. Which is a good thing. You and a good driller should be able to select a good drill that is suited for the lane conditions that you will be bowling on. The conditions that I bowl on in a couple of houses were breaking down after the first game and I needed something that I could get down lane and still have a good movement on the back end. My two choices in the Hammer line was to me the Onyx Vibe and the Midnight vibe. The difference is very small in the cover an hook ratings are one number stronger. The Onyx is a couple of boards more hook than the Midnight and I don't know why, but it does. This might be another good choice for you to think about. For what the bowling balls cost today you can nearly buy two Vibes for what some of them cost. I try to pick a ball that is going to help me and my game and and conditions that I will be bowling on.

jodyk24

Doug Sterner · « **Reply #6 on:** March 27, 2011, 08:08:03 AM »

I drilled up a Blue/Silver Backlash over the summer with a 60x4x60 layout. I really fell in love with the ball but I decided I wanted something just a notch more since they altered our house pattern so I needed a bit more overall reaction.

So I went to Hammer's site and found that the Backlash had an FCC rating of 9 and the Midnight Vibe gets a 10...wow! Perfect! So I drilled one up with exactly the same layout. Well all I can say is that the FCC rating may be correct in terms of the Finish,cover and core numbers but this is one case where the whole is DEFINITELY greater than the sum of it's parts. The Midnight is SIGNIFICANTLY stronger than the Backlash and very nearly rivals my Infection in terms of ball motion.

The downlane motion of the Midnight is just huge due in part to the very slick coverstock surface. So, if you don't want bounce on the backend, you will need to use caution with the layout and surface.

Good luck!

Doug Sterner
Doug's Pro Shop
Owego, NY
dougsproshop@aol.com
www.dougsproshop.net
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KDawg77 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 27, 2011, 11:34:52 AM »

Thanks, Doug. I'm so rusty on layouts that I can't picture a 60X4X60, but I know what to look for in reaction downlane. All I need is to get the ball to the breakpoint without pushing past it with my speed and I'm golden. Is there a chance you can take a pic of the layout for me?

Ken

Doug Sterner · « **Reply #8 on:** March 27, 2011, 12:00:26 PM »

Here's the layout on my Backlash...the Midnight Vibe looks identical.....

Backlash

If I were to do it over again I think I would get the pin further from my PAP, like say under the bridge, and kick the cg out just slightly to the point where it didn't need a weighthole. I think that would make the ball smoother off the spot and better carry through the pin deck.

I will be taking pics of my entire Hammer arsenal soon.... just have not gotten around to it yet.

Doug Sterner
Doug's Pro Shop
Owego, NY
dougsproshop@aol.com
www.dougsproshop.net
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Edited by Doug Sterner on 3/27/2011 at 12:07 PM

KDawg77 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 27, 2011, 04:37:42 PM »

Okay, looks similar to my Blue Vibe with the pin off the ring finger as opposed to under the ring. That might work well for a touch more midlane read. My cherry goes long and have a nice strong-arcing backend. Your layout might be the right idea for me.

Thanks Doug!

Ken

Edited by KDawg77 on 10/26/2011 at 1:57 PM

EboKnight · « **Reply #10 on:** March 29, 2011, 09:56:06 AM »

I think the MidVibe would work fine as well. Sterner's input is spot on. But remember his layout is off his PAP/axis location. So a 60x4x60 would look alot different off your pap/axis location. could be over an inch different in drill length, which can alter the reaction a TON!

just be careful with the layouts, use what works for you.

cheers.

Matt Williams
Gator Pro Shop: June 04 - Present
Ebonite Staff (3 years running)
www.Ebonite.com
www.GatorBowling.com

KDawg77 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 31, 2011, 08:27:44 PM »

What about an Onyx vibe with a tall pin like at least over my ring finger (similar to my Cherry)? Stronger overall but added length versus the Blue?

Ken

Doug Sterner · « **Reply #12 on:** March 31, 2011, 09:04:19 PM »

Methinks you have it nailed with that selection....

Doug Sterner
Doug's Pro Shop
Owego, NY
dougsproshop@aol.com
www.dougsproshop.net
RotoGrip Star Pro Shop

Turbo XTreme Dealer

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